"It's been a bit of a challenge losing both Wednesday and Thursday and a half-day Friday and now Sunday [to rain]. The teams are going to be really anxious to get quality track time [when the track reopens] Wednesday through Friday."

Rich get richer

It was in May 2005 that Indy introduced the current qualifying system, which fills the field with 11 cars on each of three days. Previously, drivers who posted times on pole day were in the field until it was filled and the slowest cars started getting bumped.

Under that old system, 20 drivers would have qualified Saturday for this year's race. But now the nine slowest must fret and sweat for another week.

"I like it in theory," said Oriol Servia of KV Racing Technology. "I like dividing the top 11, 22, 33.

"The only problem is, if it rains, it pushes two-thirds of the field to have to qualify the second weekend, which means that this next week we cannot just work on race setup like the top 11 cars.

"So you're telling me that the top 11 cars -- who obviously have better cars; that's why they're in the top 11 -- now they can work on their race cars. So they're going to have a huge advantage."

Countered Barnhart: "I don't think it's that bad, because there are six hours a day of practice each of those three days. It's just that they'll have to manage it wisely. It's just a matter of being smart about when you're doing what you're doing. You're going to work on both (qualifying setup and race setup)."

Likes attract

Eyebrows popped up Saturday when Target Chip Ganassi's Dan Wheldon went out late to take a shot at teammate Scott Dixon, who was sitting on the pole. But Sunday morning, Wheldon had a ready explanation for his surprising move.

"When [Dixon] gets in the car, he will give it his all," Wheldon said. "That's why I think we get along as teammates, because I think we both understand. He knew that I would try and best his time, and I know that if I had beaten it, he would have got in and tried to go again. That's just the way we both are, [and] that's why it works.

"He's a guy that's dedicated to his job and wants to win. He's not just riding around. It's nice to be on a team with somebody like that."

No regrets

In 1994, Tony George, the chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, founded the IRL. That created the schism that severely damaged open-wheel racing in this country. Its fan base abated, its best drivers scattered and not until February did the series finally unify with Champ Car.

Was that schism avoidable?

"Am I somehow remorseful over starting the Indy Racing League. No," George said. "I think a lot of things have come out of it that are very good.

"We set a new standard for competition. We've done a lot to improve safety. Those are things to be proud of.

"It became a challenge for both us and Champ Car ... to have to begin every conversation trying to explain the split. Well, we don't have to do that anymore. That's one of the byproducts.

"One of the things to get excited about going forward is talking about positive things and not always looking back."

And finally

Asked if he feels vindicated by the unification after being vilified for so long, George said:

"No. I'm still vilified. It just feels nice to be able to look forward."